18 February 2005

A final piece from "In the End - The Beginning" by Jurgen Moltmann

...these different forms of despair cannot prevail against the creative power of hope, for they are only the symptoms of hope's decline. They spread only where hope withdraws and capitulates. When Christianity is no longer prepared to take public responsibility for the hope which God has place in it, these petrifications and corruptions of life in society are the result. 'Always be prepared to make a defense for the hope that is in you,' we are told in 1 Peter 3:15. What hope is that? It is the hope of resurrection (Acts 23:6), and it already leads to a revolt against the powers of destruction here and now.

What a strong word for all of us who claim to be followers of Jesus. We are invited to be prepared to take public responsibility for the hope which God has placed in us. This is a vary active mission. In fact, to think our our congregations as communities of hope who are called to bring hope into the world is a grand adventure because most often, hope is given up for what will sell and what will keep things as they are. We are people who live beyond what is - because we know that resurrection is promised even when we are dead and gone in the grave of Holy Saturday with no visible proof that life will come again. The world does not hear this from our society and I would suggest that it doesn't hear this from us most of the time. We have a responsibility to others and ourselves to step up to the plate and offer a word...a hand...a touch...a presence of hopefulness.

Connection: How will this responsibility take shape within the public life in which you are engaged today? Let it shine...let it shine...let it shine - or - ask someone to shine with it for you when you need the Spirit to reach in and touch you.

O God of Vision and Delight, you reach out and promise to pull us through this day and you call us to hold onto others as we pass through along your way of new life. Make us a courageous people so that as we walk with others, your promises will enlighten all of our lives. Amen.